Scientific missions for earth orbital tether systems

Autor:	W. J. Webster
Rok vydání:	1988
Předmět:	Physics Atmospheric physics Earth's orbit Sounding rocket Polar orbit Aerospace Engineering Geophysics Astrobiology Space and Planetary Science Physics::Space Physics Satellite Ionosphere Geocentric orbit Medium Earth orbit
Zdroj:	Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets. 25:299-303
ISSN:	1533-6794 0022-4650
DOI:	10.2514/3.26003
Popis:	The current available in situ data on the physical characteristics of the 90-130 km environment depends on sounding rocket and maneuverable satellite systems for its collection. Such data are, of necessity, sporadic in both time and space. The development of tethered systems in Earth orbit will allow global, long-term observations of this environment for the first time. In addition, tethered systems will allow spacial gradiometry at altitudes from 130400 km without the extensive celestial mechanics required to coordinate multiple satellite observing programs. This paper reviews some of the outstanding science questions for the altitude regime from 90-400 km which require the use of tethered observing systems for study. These questions involve the structure, temporal evolution, and composition of the uppermost atmosphere/lowermost ionosphere, the distribution of the high spatial frequency components of the magnetic and gravity fields, and the spatial gradients of the properties of the lowermost magnetosphere/uppermost ionosphere.
Databáze:	OpenAIRE
Externí odkaz:	https://explore.openaire.eu/search/publication?articleId=doi_________::db53d14327f6636c7fe6f042c27d659f https://doi.org/10.2514/3.26003 Zobrazit plný text záznamu